We found an article recently from AARP that might interest you. It referenced a “safety-first” approach, which is something we have always believed in. The idea is to cover all of your essential expenses with guaranteed sources of income, meaning sources like Social Security, pensions, and annuities that pay you an income you can’t outlive.  If you’re married, your essential expenses should cover not only yourself, but also your spouse as well. Call us if you’d like to review your expenses and your sources of income to see if they’re measuring up to what your needs are. We’re always here

There may be a gap between how much you spend and how much you think you spend. This gap should be factored in when trying to determine how much you’ll need in retirement: Probably more than you think. It’s natural to not want to think about this: It can be disconcerting to see what you spend on those one-off purchases that you rationalize in the moment, but don’t factor into future consequences. Call us. We can help you navigate your options to fill this gap and have enough to retire comfortably. 

The importance of saving up enough for retirement cannot be emphasized enough. Seniors who retire mostly or solely on social security often end up strapped for cash. So, it’s essential to have additional income sources to tap into that can provide additional income. While we know retirement savings should be your main priority, sometimes economic circumstances force us to put aside long-term goals. When that happens, it’s all the more important to determine how that money you’ve saved up can help you now. It’s vital that you find a way to stay protected, regardless of what the market does. Call

There still seems to be confusion among retirees about the changes in the law affecting required minimum distributions, or RMDs.  Beginning a few weeks ago, on January 1, 2023, the starting age for RMDs rose from 72 to 73. The new version of the Secure Act will eventually increase the RMD age to 75, in 2033. Pushing back the age for RMDs can be viewed as a benefit for those who can afford to hold off taking distributions as it affords them more time for their retirement savings to grow. Note that if you turned 72 in 2022 (or earlier)

How much would you consider to be “enough money to retire?” Yes, you want to have enough money to ensure that you don’t go broke, and can afford basic expenses like food, housing, and medical care, but is that really “enough?” What goals do you want to reach in retirement, and what kind of budget will you need to reach them? If you’d like some ideas on how to obtain a source of income you can’t outlive, which may help you reach your goals, reach out to us. We’re always here to help.